Government Opens First ‘Green’ Prison in East Yorkshire
HMP Millsike adds 1,500 places to England and Wales's prison system amid rising overcrowding concerns.
The UK government has inaugurated HMP Millsike, a pioneering ‘green’ prison in East Yorkshire, expected to provide an additional 1,500 spaces to the currently overburdened prison estate in England and Wales.
This facility is the largest of its kind, characterized by its all-electric design boasting solar panels and advanced heat pump technology.
Located adjacent to the maximum-security HMP Full Sutton, which currently accommodates nearly 600 high-risk prisoners, Millsike is one of four new jails planned under a broader initiative to establish 14,000 extra prison places by 2031.
The Ministry of Justice reports that the opening of HMP Millsike has led to the creation of approximately 600 jobs.
The government aims for this increased capacity to effectively detain more violent offenders, thereby enhancing public safety and ensuring prison availability into the future.
This development follows a controversial period during which early prisoner releases were implemented, with some inmates having served as little as 40% of their sentences to alleviate pressure on prison populations.
Current assessments indicate that a significant number of prisons in England and Wales are operating at or near double their intended capacity, a situation described as “beyond full” by the Howard League for Penal Reform earlier this year.
In addition to the opening of HMP Millsike, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has reinstated the practice of using police cells for incarcerated individuals, prompted by a six-month peak in jail occupancy.
In remarks during the launch, Mahmood emphasized the government's commitment to reforming the penal system, highlighting the necessity of additional cells for ensuring public safety against dangerous criminals.
Official statistics reveal an alarming backlog in the crown court system, reaching 74,651 cases, with forecasts suggesting it could escalate to 100,000 cases by the end of 2029. The government has characterized these figures as indicative of the extensive challenges inherited within the criminal justice system.
Previous studies, including interim findings from a review by former Justice Secretary David Gauke, have identified a historical trend toward a punitive approach to crime, noting that such high incarceration rates have not demonstrably contributed to reducing crime levels.
HMP Millsike is part of a £2.3 billion ten-year strategy announced in December aimed at increasing prison capacity, featuring plans for additional bed spaces through both new constructions and expansions of existing facilities.
In a related development, earlier this month, expansions at HMP Highpoint in Suffolk were completed, enhancing its capacity by over 50%, making it the largest prison in the UK, capable of holding more than 2,000 prisoners.
HMP Millsike will include 24 workshops and training facilities designed to facilitate the rehabilitation of offenders.
The facility will be operated by Mitie Care and Custody, with educational programs managed by PeoplePlus.
Russell Trent, managing director of Mitie Care and Custody, underscored the establishment's focus on rehabilitating prisoners to mitigate the cycle of reoffending.
This facility is the largest of its kind, characterized by its all-electric design boasting solar panels and advanced heat pump technology.
Located adjacent to the maximum-security HMP Full Sutton, which currently accommodates nearly 600 high-risk prisoners, Millsike is one of four new jails planned under a broader initiative to establish 14,000 extra prison places by 2031.
The Ministry of Justice reports that the opening of HMP Millsike has led to the creation of approximately 600 jobs.
The government aims for this increased capacity to effectively detain more violent offenders, thereby enhancing public safety and ensuring prison availability into the future.
This development follows a controversial period during which early prisoner releases were implemented, with some inmates having served as little as 40% of their sentences to alleviate pressure on prison populations.
Current assessments indicate that a significant number of prisons in England and Wales are operating at or near double their intended capacity, a situation described as “beyond full” by the Howard League for Penal Reform earlier this year.
In addition to the opening of HMP Millsike, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has reinstated the practice of using police cells for incarcerated individuals, prompted by a six-month peak in jail occupancy.
In remarks during the launch, Mahmood emphasized the government's commitment to reforming the penal system, highlighting the necessity of additional cells for ensuring public safety against dangerous criminals.
Official statistics reveal an alarming backlog in the crown court system, reaching 74,651 cases, with forecasts suggesting it could escalate to 100,000 cases by the end of 2029. The government has characterized these figures as indicative of the extensive challenges inherited within the criminal justice system.
Previous studies, including interim findings from a review by former Justice Secretary David Gauke, have identified a historical trend toward a punitive approach to crime, noting that such high incarceration rates have not demonstrably contributed to reducing crime levels.
HMP Millsike is part of a £2.3 billion ten-year strategy announced in December aimed at increasing prison capacity, featuring plans for additional bed spaces through both new constructions and expansions of existing facilities.
In a related development, earlier this month, expansions at HMP Highpoint in Suffolk were completed, enhancing its capacity by over 50%, making it the largest prison in the UK, capable of holding more than 2,000 prisoners.
HMP Millsike will include 24 workshops and training facilities designed to facilitate the rehabilitation of offenders.
The facility will be operated by Mitie Care and Custody, with educational programs managed by PeoplePlus.
Russell Trent, managing director of Mitie Care and Custody, underscored the establishment's focus on rehabilitating prisoners to mitigate the cycle of reoffending.
